Gate-latch.



P. FRAN TZ.

GATE LATGH. APPLIoATIoN FILED 111.11.14, 1911.

1,014,290, Patented 1.1119, 1912.

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UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

PETER FRANTZ, 0F STERLING, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO'IIERANTZv MANUFACTURINGA C0., OF STERLING, ILLINOIS,*A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

GATE-LATCH.

Speceation of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9,1912.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, PETER FRANTZ, acitiside, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Grate- Latches, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to that class of gate latches inwhich the freeend of a latch bar pivoted to the gate is adapted to strike an inclinedengaging member or keeper carried by the gate post, and by engagementwith said keeper hold the gate in a closed condition. And the presentimprovement has -for its object to provide a simple and efficientstructural formation of the latch bar and keeper of a gate latch,combining the features of compactness, strength and cheapness, and whichis adapted to insure effective initial engagement in the ordinaryslamming of the gate to effect a closure, all as will hereinafter morefully appear.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1, is anl elevation of a gate latchembodying the present improvements. Fig. 2 is atransverse sectionalelevation on line m-w, Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a detail perspective view ofthe keeper, with a portion of the latch bar in engagement therewith.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, l represents the ordinary latch bar having apivot' stud 2 at one end by whichvit is pivotally secured to the gate inany ordinary manner which permits of a limited vert-ical oscillation ofthe latch bar. In the present improvement the other end of the latch baris' recessed to form upper and lower toes 3 and Il, as shown and for thepurpose hereinafter stated. Y

5 is the attaching base of the keeper piece, preferably of the triangleplate form shown, and formed with the usual orices for the passage ofattaching screws or bolts. At one end said base is provided with anarrow shaped flange or catch piece 6, located midway the height ofthebase 5 and projecting at right-angles tol the same. As so arranged thekeeper is of a reversible nature, with the inclined surface oftheforward part of' the catch flange that is uppermost, adapted toreceive the glancing impact of the free end of the latch bar 1, to moveit upwardly and so that as the latch bar nears the end of its travel itwill drop by gravity behind the barb of the catch flange 6, which isuppermost to hold the gate closed.

A material feature of the present invention, involves in connection withthe described type of keeper pieces and their arrow -shape catch flange6, yof upper and lower inclined deflecting lugs 7 and 8, on theattaching base 5. In the present construction s'aid lugs 7 and 8 yarelocated to one side of the arrow shape catch flange 6, as shown, and asso arranged, and with the latch bar l recessed in the manner beforedescribed, the operation of the parts in a closing movement of the gateis as follows The recess in the free end of the latch bar l will passfreely over the particular deflecting lug 7 or 8 which is uppermost,while the toe 3 or 4 0f said latch bar which is lowermost moves againstthe under face of the particular deflecting lug aforesaid to bedeflected downward and cause an effective engagement of the main portionof the latch bar behind the above described barb of the arrow shapeflange 6, and in'so doing very effectively prevents any rebound of thelatch bar into an unlatched condition. The purpose of vlocating thedeflecting lugs 7 and 8 to one side of the catch flange 6 is to permit,in connection with the toe formation of the latch bar 1, of a muchcloser relation of said lugs upon the base plate 5, with a correspondingreduction in the size and cost of the keeper piece. Y As so constructedthe full cross sectional area of the latch`bar is retained at the pointof engagement between the same and the keeper piece.

9 is a diagonal brace extending from a remote end of the base plate 5 tothe point of the keeper flange 6, to provide added stiffness to saidflange and prevent accidental deflection of the same from its properposition in actual use.

Having thus fully described my said invention what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A latch, comprising in combination, a pivoted latch bar, and a keepermember formed with an attaching base having a lateral arrow shaped catchflange at one end and an .inclined deflecting lug arranged above and toone side ofthe keeper flange aforesaid, substantially as set forth.

2. A latch comprising in combination, 'a'

pivotedV latch bar, and a keeper member formed with an attaching basehaving a latieral arrow shaped catch flange arranged centrally at oneend and a pair of inclined 4:. A latch, comprisingin combination, ai

pivoted latch bar the free end of which is recessed to form a pair oftoes, and a keeper member formed with an attaching base having a lateralarrow shaped catch flange arranged centrally at one end and a pair ofinclined deilecting lugs arranged symmetsymmetrically stantially as setforth.

`formed with an attaching base' having a lateral arrow shaped catchflange at one end, an inclined deflecting lug arranged above and to oneside of said keeper flange and a diagonal brace extending from a remoteend of the base to the pointY of the keeper flange,

'- substantially as set forth.

6. A latch comprising in combination, a pivoted latch,V bar, and akeeper member formed with an attaching base having a lat-f` eral arrowshaped catch flange arranged centrally at one end, a pair of inclinedde- L fleeting lugs Varranged symmetrically above and below said keeperflange and a diagonal brace extending from a remote end of the base tot-he point of the keeper flange, sub- Signed at'Chicago, Illinois, this3rdday of March, 1911.

PETER EEANTZ.

Witnesses ROBERT BURNS, HENRY MOE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

